H. Charles Johnston

H. Charles Johnston, age 84, died at St. Vincent Hospital September 15, 2010 of pulmonary complications with family and friends in attendance. He was born November 13, 1925 in Little Rock, Arkansas to the late Howard C. Johnston and Sallie Harton Johnston. Raised in Conway and Little Rock, Charles graduated from Little Rock High School in 1943. He attended Sewanee Military Academy in Tennessee and earned his BA from Hendrix College. A World War II veteran, he saw service in the Philippines and was in Tokyo Bay when General MacArthur accepted the Japanese surrender. His passions included; literature, civil rights, nature, bird-watching, and politics. He was active in the 1950s and 1960s in the civil rights movement. He was also very active in the environmental and conservation movements, playing an instrumental part in preserving the Buffalo River as a free-flowing stream. He loved to canoe, floating the Buffalo and other streams numerous times with family and friends. He was a longtime saving and loan executive, succeeding his father, Howard, as CEO of First Federal of Arkansas. He was proud of the building constructed on his watch. He remained Chairman Emeritus until First Federal of Arkansas closed its doors in 1987. Charles also served as Adjunct Professor of Finance at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. An avid reader, Charles was a longtime member of The Book Club, as was his late father. He was also a regular member of the Friday BBQ Club and the Sunday Motley Crew Lunch Bunch. He was active in his kitchen, being famous particularly for baking bread. Charles is survived by his son, David Howard Johnston; daughter-in-law, Teresa; grandson Erich, nephews; Peter and Howard; a niece, Hilarie; cousin, David Newbern M.D., and lifelong friend Naomi Watts. Charles was preceded in death by his first wife, Mimi; his son, Warren; his second wife, Bonnie; his stepson, Gregg Olen Morden; his brother, Jolyon and his beloved dog, Mia. Charles wished to be cremated. A ceremony will be held by the family and friends at his home in Little Rock on Sunday, September 19, 2010 from 2 to 5 p.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Arkansas Ozark Society, the Democratic Party of Arkansas or the Nature Conservancy. Arrangements by Ruebel Funeral Home. www.ruebelfuneralhome.com.